Pokes strike big in NOLA

It is not every day Oklahoma State ventures into Louisiana, but in the class of 2014 the Cowboys have already hit paydirt.

The last time the Cowboys signed a prospect out of Louisiana was in 2007 with Wilson Youman out of St. Martinville. In the 2014 class coach Mike Gundy and his staff went to New Orleans and defending 4A state champion Edna Karr for 6-3, 255-pound defensive end standout Joyan Williams.

"I think feeling at home with those guys over there and it's a place he's always eyeballed," Edna Karr head coach Nathaniel Jones said. "I think his relationship with the coaches up there and he didn't want to make it a long recruiting process and wanted to get it done and he believed that was the place for him."

Oklahoma State may have always been a program Williams liked, but his relationship with the coaches sealed the deal for the standout defender.

"It helps to have a Karr man as a graduate assistant, Eric Henderson, on their staff, so it's someone he felt comfortable with and he felt comfortable with the defensive staff," Coach Jones said. "Coach Jones over there is a good guy and he knows those guys and talks to those guys. He was calling them and feeling good about the relationships he had up there. It's something he wanted to do and he talked about it with his mom and they said that would be a great place for him."

Without a doubt it is a decision everyone is feeling good about.

"I think they're getting a great football player and he's going to a great program, so it's a win-win situation for both sides," Coach Jones said.

Williams plans to visit Oklahoma State in late April and again in June.